World Company hires V.P. of sales, marketing

The new vice president of sales and marketing for The World Company’s media division is ready to grow the marketability of the Lawrence company’s newspapers and websites.

Susan Cantrell, a Kansas University journalism graduate, now oversees advertising and marketing for the Journal-World, area weekly newspapers and websites including LJWorld.com, KUSports.com, Lawrence.com, WellCommons.com and SunflowerHorizons.com.

She returns to the area after five years in Tucson, Ariz., where she had served as vice president of advertising for The Arizona Daily Star, including three websites.

Before that she had worked in various management capacities during 23 years at The Kansas City Star, with oversight of several suburban newspapers, the company’s magazine division and, during her last two years, as the newspaper’s vice president of sales and marketing.

“I’m excited to come back to my roots, in terms of revisiting Lawrence and the University of Kansas and the suburban properties in Kansas City,” said Cantrell, who grew up in Kansas City, Kan. “They’re all very familiar territory. And yet, today, I think they have more promise than ever.”

Suzanne Schlicht, chief operating officer for The World Company, described Cantrell as a talented and innovative leader, and as one committed to the long-term success of the media industry.

“Her track record in sales management, online advertising and marketing, coupled with her knowledge of northeast Kansas and strong area ties, make her uniquely qualified to lead our sales efforts,” Schlicht said.